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Today on Asia Calling to mark World Environment Day (June 5th), we begin a series of stories on environmental initiatives being undertaken across our region.

In recent weeks we’ve been exploring the Coral Triangle, a vast underwater wilderness that spans the island of Bali, in Indonesia, the northern tip of the Philippines and all the way to the Solomon Islands.

Scientists describe the region as “the Amazon of the seas” because of the sheer diversity of life that can be found beneath its depths.

Six out of seven existing species of sea turtles dwell here. Among them, the leatherback turtle, or “giant turtle”, a huge animal that can grow up to 2.5 meters long and weigh as much as a small car.

The leatherback is critically endangered, especially in the Pacific Ocean, where only 3,000 females nest each year.

Three quarters of them choose one of four beaches along the remote northern coast of the Indonesian province of Papua.

Our reporter Solenn Honorine recently visited the district of Abun nearby several of the beaches were Leatherbacks nest. 

There, local villagers are helping the World Wildlife Fung to protect the turtles.

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With around 70 hydropower dams under construction or consideration, Laos is being labeled the “battery of South East Asia”.

Power from the dams will be exported to countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

In return, Laos will receive foreign exchange and technical expertise.

The government says this will used to fund education and health.

But critics argue that the government has a poor track record when it comes to mitigating the effects of dams.

They say that dams currently in operation have had huge environmental and social impacts, and that the new dams are unlikely to be any better.

In Laos, Elise Potaka has more.

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The Sri Lankan government says they are no minorities in the country.

Following the military defeated of the Tamil Tiger rebels in May this year after the government claims that they are building a united country and an honorable peace.

But after 30 years of bloody civil war between the Sinhalese and the ethnic Tamils the challenge to create lasting peace is huge.

Rebecca Henschke hears what different people in the capital Colombo think needs to be done in order to achieve this goal.

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The Sri Lankan government wants to rapidly develop their tourism industry following the end of the 30 year long civil war.

The President has set a target of 2.5 million visitors by 2016.

The end of the conflict has opened up the North and East of the country to international visitors.

Two-thirds of the coastline was formerly controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebels who were fighting for a separate homeland.

Rebecca Henschke, in the capital Colombo, takes a look at what the country has to offer.

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Fear of persecution at home is driving thousands of Tamil Sri Lankans to risk dangerous boat rides in the hope of gaining asylum in western countries.

Two separate boats carrying a total of over 300 Tamils were recently detained. They were trying to reach Australia and Canada.

The Tamil Tigers rebels or the LTTE lost a 30 year fight for a separate homeland for their community five months ago.

The Sri Lankan government insists there is no reason for Tamils to flee saying they are equal citizens and their rights will be respected.

Rebecca Henschke speaks with Tamils in the capital Colombo to hear if this promise is being kept.

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In Australia, indigenous musicians are getting out a message through music.

While you might be thinking of traditional didgeridoo sound and rhythmic chanting, you might be surprised to learn that good old rock and roll is a crowd favourite.

In the case of Australia’s Wirrinyga Band, white and black musicians are working together to produce rock music – a departure from the traditional sounds of this ancient culture.

As Michael Leung discovers, these musical partnerships have helped pave connections where they didn’t exist.

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In 1971 East Pakistan began its war of independence with West Pakistan, a nine-month conflict in which of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Bengali's were killed or murdered.

From this struggle Bangladesh was born.

But the legacy of the killings carried out at the hands of Pakistan's auxiliary forces continues to this day, with many demanding justice for what they refer to as genocide.

Now 38 years on, after repeated failures the countries government says it is ready to prosecute those responsible for the genocide.  

On a recent visit to the capital Dhaka our reporter Katie Hamann met with families of those who were killed and others pushing for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal.

She asked them why it has taken so long and whether justice can finally be achieved.

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Australia is a country struggling to reconcile its indigenous history.

This history has in the past been absent from the national identity and recorded histories.

But nowadays, non-indigenous Australians are seeking to reconcile their ‘black’ past, and they’re doing it through cultural experiences like those offered by tourism.

As a result, some say that things are changing, while others say we haven’t come nearly far enough.

Michael Leung bring us this insider look at a country trying to reconcile its history.